Freedom day gets later, again

April 17, 2013

Now that you have completed your federal income tax return - and you have, we hope, because it was due to be filed Monday - let's take a few moments to reflect on taxes in general.

According to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, it is now taking you longer than in the past to pay your taxes.

Each year the foundation calculates "Tax Freedom Day," the date on which the "average" American has worked enough days in the year to pay his or her local, state and federal tax bill.

This year, Tax Freedom Day is April 18, according to the foundation - five days later than last year. The date of Americans working for the government has steadily grown later every year since 2009.

We're not exactly sure what that means across the United States, but obviously more "average" Americans are working longer simply to pay their tax bills. Remember, too, that this news comes amid the never-ending debate on how to balance the federal budget and cut the federal deficit, with some people and politicians continuing the argument that Americans aren't paying enough taxes.